With one year to go, businesses are galloping to get behind London 2012 July 26, 2011 IT’S got to be one of the most breath-taking sights of this summer. You know, the pictures of athletic horses jumping fences at Greenwich Park against a backdrop of the skyscraper-dominated Canary Wharf. It’s a stunning juxtaposition that also captures a critical aspect of the London Games. To see the capital’s thriving financial district providing [...]
Barca chief: Fabregas talks going in the right direction July 25, 2011 BARCELONA chiefs insist they are closing in on a deal for Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas despite committing £33m to signing Chile forward Alexis Sanchez. The Spanish club’s sporting vice-president, Josep Maria Bartomeu, said long-running and tense negotiations with the Gunners were now progressing well. “They are going in the right direction,” he said. “We will [...]
Genteel, smart… meet the old Marbella July 24, 2011 THE plane descends over the southern Spanish countryside and the perfect rows of olive trees almost resemble a Roy Lichtenstein cartoon from above, neatly formed into different sections by hill slope and field. The dramatic mountains give way to bold blue waters and there are whisps of white as the waves collide with the land. [...]
Mercedes’ ultimate ticket to ride July 19, 2011 SOME days are good, some days are great. And no doubt about it: being driven around Goodwood in a Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG gullwing supercar by former F1 world champion Jody Scheckter is a great experience. Scheckter, now an organic farmer at Laverstoke Park Farm, says he’s not been on a race track in years. I [...]
Catch extra profits swing trading with a pitch on India’s cricket tour July 17, 2011 THESE are halcyon days for the England cricket team. Its excellent run has been a very rewarding one for the Barmy Army’s supporters – and for spread betters who have got with the team along the way. With a huge selection of volatile markets and a wide range of different scores recorded, cricket is the [...]
Sports Direct profit rises as staff pocket a £40k bonus July 14, 2011 SPORTS Direct yesterday reported a surge in full-year profit figures yesterday, triggering a bonus pot for staff. The retailer posted a 25 per cent rise in underlying profit for the year to 24 April – making £200.4m. The firm, controlled by Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley, grew like-for-like retail sales by 6.6 per cent while [...]
Sports Direct profit up 25pc July 14, 2011 Sports Direct HAS posted a 25 per cent rise in underlying year profit as it won market share from stricken rival JJB Sports. The firm, controlled by Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley, said It made underlying earnings before tax, interest, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) of £200.4m in the year to 24 April, after taking a [...]
Sports Direct staff set for bumper bonus July 10, 2011 Sports Direct staff look set for a bumper bonus when the 400-store chain announces its results on Thursday. Around 2,000 full-time staff would collect the second windfall from the bonus scheme if the firm reaches it £205m profit target. Based on an average salary of £20,000, the total bonus for two years would be worth [...]
Triathlon training reaches the half-way marker July 10, 2011 WITH the London leg of this year’s Dextro Energy ITU triathlon just weeks away, the Laureus / City AM team already have some significant training under their belts. Following one of their training sessions with double Olympic gold-winning decathlete Daley Thompson, one member of the team offered us her thoughts on the experience and what [...]
Sports Direct buys stake in high-end fashion firms July 6, 2011 SPORTS Direct has bought an 80 per cent share in the USC and Cruise chains, to give it a foothold in the luxury clothing market. The designer fashion chains are currently controlled by Scottish tycoon Sir Tom Hunter through his West Coast Capital private equity firm. Sports Direct paid £7m under the deal, which was [...]